Patent Application
20080070670
The present invention is directed to a game of chance, and more particularly to a keno game incorporating at least one wild symbol.
In a standard game of keno, a player chooses between one and ten numbers from the numbers 1-80. Keno may be played electronically on a video keno machine wherein players select numbers using touch-screen technology, or live, with players selecting numbers by marking tickets. After a player selects numbers, twenty winning numbers are randomly selected from the field of eighty numbers. Weighted average paytables are used to award a payout based on the number of player numbers which matching the winning numbers. Typically, the paytables are based on the number of “spots” picked, or the number of player numbers selected. The more numbers that match, the higher the payout.
In a live keno game, typically the playable numbers (i.e., 1-80) are represented by eighty keno balls numbered 1 through 80. An air blower device circulates the balls within the device. The winning numbers are selected by randomly choosing twenty of the eighty balls. On a typical video keno machine, the winning numbers are displayed as “balls”, much like the winning numbers in the live keno game. The winning numbers enter a 2×10 grid as they are selected. In each game, there is a place on the screen or the game board where the winning numbers are displayed. In traditional keno games, the winning symbols are selected only among the playable symbols.
The present invention provides a keno game for play by a player. The game includes a set of playable symbols, from which a set of player symbols are selected, preferably by the player. A set of winning symbols are selected from a set of potential winning symbols, with the set of potential winning symbols including the set of playable symbols and at least one wild symbol. In one aspect of the present invention, the wild symbol is selected from a set other than the set of playable symbols. In another aspect of the present invention, the wild symbol matches any one of the player symbols. In yet another aspect of the present invention, the wild symbol represents a set of wild symbols selected from among the set of playable symbols, with the wild symbol matching any player symbol falling within the set of wild symbols. In still another aspect of the present invention, the wild symbol acts as a blank, matching none of the player symbols. The game may be a video-type game or utilize tangible symbols within the scope of the invention.
The set of potential winning symbols may include a plurality of wild symbols. The wild symbols may be substantially identical. Additionally, at least one of the wild symbols may be a bonus wild symbol, with the player being awarded a bonus if the bonus wild symbol is among the set of winning symbols. A player may also be awarded a bonus if a predetermined number of the wild symbols are present among the set of winning symbols. The playable symbols are preferably numbers. Payouts preferably follow a pay table having a weighted probability based on the total number of symbols in the set of potential winning symbols.
The present invention also provides a method of playing a keno game having a player. First, a set of playable symbols is defined. Next, a set of player symbols is selected from the set of playable symbols. A set of potential winning symbols is then defined, with the set of potential winning symbols including the set of playable symbols and at least one wild symbol. A set of winning symbols is selected from the set of potential winning symbols. The set of player symbols are compared to the set of winning symbols, with a payout being awarded to a player if a predetermined number of the set of player symbols match the set of winning symbols. Preferably, the player selects the set of player symbols. The wild symbol preferably matches at least one of the player symbols. The set of potential winning symbols may include a plurality of wild symbols within the scope of the present invention.
The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals equal like parts,
A set of potential winning symbols 16 includes the set of playable symbols 12 and at least one wild symbol 18. By way of example,
When the game is played, there is a potential that one or more of the wild symbols 18 will be present among the set of winning symbols 20. When the invention is used in a live keno setting, the wild symbol 18 may be a ball that is physically displayed along with the rest of the winning symbols 20. In a video-type keno game, if wild symbols 18 are among the set of winning symbols 20, they are accented in some way on the display. For instance, it may be decided that the wild symbols 18 are colored differently than the rest of the potential winning symbols 16. Thus, if a wild-colored symbol is among the set of winning symbols 20, the outcome of the game is altered as compared to traditional keno.
As with a traditional keno game, the game according to the present invention awards a payout to a player if a predetermined number of the player symbols 14 match winning symbols,20. However, with the potential for one or more of the winning symbols 20 to be wild symbols 18, the nature of the game changes. It may be that the wild symbol 18 matches exactly one, any one, of the player symbols 14. Thus, even if none of the player symbols 14 match winning symbols 20 in the traditional manner (i.e., one player symbol 14 is a “2” and one winning symbol 20 is a “2”), a player still earns one “match” for each bonus symbol 18 present among the set of winning symbols 20. It may also be the case that the wild symbol 18 may match a range of symbols. For example, the wild symbol 18 may be a ball that reads “10-19”, with that wild symbol 18 matching any one, or all, of the player symbols 14 which fall within that range. It may further be the case that the wild symbol 18 acts as a blank, and matches none of the player symbols 14. In this case, the wild symbol 18 may be, for example, a skull and crossbones, or a large red X. In any event, the addition of the wild symbol(s) 18 to the set of potential winning numbers 16 is the heart of the inventive concept; the manner in which the wild symbol 18 is used enhance the game may vary. It should be appreciated that the wild symbol 18 may be selected from a set other than the set of playable symbols 12, as when the wild symbol 18 is a blank or a colored ball. However, the wild symbol 18 may also be selected from among the set of playable symbols 12 within the scope of the present invention, as when the wild symbol 18 represents a range of numbers.
The game may include a plurality of wild symbols 18, as discussed herein. One or more of the wild symbols 18 may be a bonus wild symbol (not shown), with a player receiving a bonus award if the bonus wild symbol is among the set of winning symbols. It may also be the case that a player is awarded a bonus if a predetermined number of wild symbols 18 are present among the set of winning symbols 20. For example, if the set of potential winning symbols 16 includes four bonus symbols 18, a player may be awarded a bonus if three of the winning symbols 20 are bonus symbols 18.
While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, it is to be understood that the terminology used is intended to be in the nature of words and description rather than of limitation. Those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize that many modifications of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced in a substantially equivalent way other than as specifically described herein.
